capacity
English meaning: Capacity
Definition
The ability to hold, receive or absorb
Example
“The stadium has a seating capacity of sixty thousand.”
Another example: “He attended the meeting in his capacity as company treasurer.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A neutral to formal noun with several senses: the amount something can hold ('seating capacity', 'full capacity'), an ability or power ('mental capacity', 'capacity to learn'), and a role or position ('in his capacity as chairman'). Used in technical, legal and everyday contexts.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin 'capacitas' (ability to hold), from 'capax' (able to hold), from 'capere' (to take); in English from the 15th century.
Synonyms
- capability
- ability
- volume
- competence
- role
Antonyms / Opposites
- incapacity
- inability
Related Words
Common Collocations
- full capacity
- seating capacity
- capacity to
- at capacity
- storage capacity
- in the capacity of
Word Forms
capacity (sing); capacities (pl)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B